Ick

The other day, I was sweeping about 50 of these off the porch:

I didn't notice this guy until he fell down, right in front of me.

Aaaaaaarrrrrggggggghhhh.

Heebie Jeebies!

First day of school

Achooo!
Our first day will be a short one; the teacher isn't feeling well.

Little Boy is happy about that; Baby is just happy to get started!

I'm happy that they're happy.

So far, so good.

Deliveries

Yesterday we received some great things in the mail & by delivery!

I got my new wallet! I recently bought a new brown purse, and I should be getting my new black purse delivered soon. I thought this was really cute, and it will "go" with both my purses.

Then we got something in the mail that I ordered as a gift, and I'm really pleased with it.

And then late yesterday afternoon a BIG, HEAVY box came. SCHOOL BOOKS! Yay! LOL Little Boy didn't think it was so great, but Baby was pretty excited. Last night, Little Boy sat down and looked at some of his books. He was asking questions. I think he was interested, but didn't want to admit it.

Last night DH and I were getting ready to go to bed. It was about midnight. We heard Baby get up to go to the bathroom. She started coughing a deep, hacking cough. I went in there. She was teary. Feverish, stuffy, blood-shot eyes, sneezing, coughing... great.

I looked through the bottles of OTC meds I have; of course I was out of the stuff that works the best. So I left her with Daddy and made a run to the store. There wasn't any of the name brand stuff I usually get, so I had to read the labels of all the store brand stuff to find the right stuff. I grabbed it, grabbed some Airborne for me, and rushed through the check out. Got home, gave Baby her meds and realized I hadn't bought any Kleenex. Figures.

She's feeling a little better this morning; and she's starving. This is the child who could care less if she only has a couple bites left to "earn" dessert. If she's not hungry, or doesn't like the bites, she can walk away. This morning she ate a fried egg, some sausage, a waffle, and a bag of goldfish crackers. That's way more than she usually eats. And she's pestering me for food. She says she wants a rice bowl. I think I'll just fix it for her. It's not like it's something unhealthy. Just wish I could get her to cover her face when she coughs and sneezes.

Pain in the Neck

Last week I woke up one morning with a pain in my neck. I am thinking it's a pinched nerve. One night I was laying down and felt a big "crack", and I felt temporary relief. But the pain came back the very next day, the pain came back and it wouldn't go a-waaaayyy.... I'd laugh, but it hurts.


I didn't do anything that would have caused an injury (come on - it's me we're talkin' about). I've tried a heating pad a couple nights, but I can't lie in a comfortable position. My husband told me I might have to go to the doctor. ugh I don't know. The pain is constant; Motrin and Tylenol just dull the pain.


I wish I lived closer to my Indiana family. They have one of these. I think it would help. In the meantime, I'll just be happy my neck is making me forget my arthritis pain.

Jack

No one warns you how your heart will break when you have to make that final decision to put your pet to sleep. We're going to DC this weekend, and I didn't want to leave Jack here by himself. As the week progressed, it was clear he wasn't going to make it. He ate less and less, and finally Wednesday night he refused to eat at all. He quit drinking water. When he walked he would take a few steps and sometimes fall over. I had planned to take him to the vet Thursday regardless, but he was making my choice "easier". I made sure the kids each spent some time with him Wednesday night before they went to bed. And I slept on the couch and held him all night. At some time during the night, he repositioned himself closer to my face and rested his face on my chin.

We took the kids to Grandma and Granddad's house at the lake. I had each kid come kiss me good-bye, and I had them say good-bye to Jack. And they ran off to have fun.

We got to the vet hospital; I went to the desk and checked in. When the girl asked me what Jack needed I almost lost it. I had called the day before; he needed to be put to sleep. We sat there waiting, and I tried to not sob out loud. I decided I didn't care what people thought. We finally got called back, and I did sob for a couple seconds. The vet and her assistant came in, and explained what she was going to do. I asked her if I was doing the right thing. That question had been in my head earlier in the week; I didn't want to put him to sleep just because we were leaving town. His refusal to eat proved he was ready to quit, she said.

She gave him the first shot to sedate him. I petted him and talked to him while it set in. He was so calm for the first time in a long time. Then she and the assistant came back in. She shaved a small area on his front leg. I prayed she'd be able to insert the IV. Otherwise she'd have to give him a shot in the heart. She got the IV. And then she gave him the shot. I just kept petting him. She waited a minute and listened to his heart; he was gone. She left us for a couple minutes, and the assistant came back in and got him. She was so gentle when she lifted him. We had him cremated, and they disposed of his ashes. I didn't want his ashes; that wasn't him.

We got back to the lake, and had to tell the kids. Little Boy cried; Baby wanted to go play. I let her go. We stayed through lunch; I slept on the couch in the den a little. We came home. That sad, empty carrier was in the trunk. I tucked the kids in and then Baby asked when Jack was coming home. I put her in bed, and explained everything again. I'm sure the super-tired, drama queen and her grief combined made for the hour-long cry-fest we had together. She finally fell asleep.

It was strange last night to leave open the door to our den, and to not ask my husband if he had fed the cat. I found a nice picture of Jack and Shadow for Baby to hold onto. I need to get it scanned in.

Vacation

I'm taking my two kids on a road trip. I must be nuts. They drive me crazy just going to and from church.

We're going to northern Indiana for about 5 days, and then on to northern Wisconsin for 2 1/2 weeks. We'll get to see my brother and his wife and their sweet little guys. Can't wait to meet the "baby". Then back to Indiana, and then home. The return trip will actually be the worst. Ugh.

I'm fairly sure I won't have internet access very often. I may go through withdrawl. But it will be good, too.

I bought a book about writing your memoirs. I'd like to start working through it. And we'll swim, visit family members, have people come visit us at our cottage on the lake, and go to a big family reunion. That was the main reason for the trip.

The only thing about the reunion that I dread is being the fat cousin. sigh. I've had MONTHS to lose weight, and I think I've gained. Too late now.

My kids are so excited to go. We're leaving tomorrow night, and I plan to drive through the night. I hope to get most of my packing done tonight, and finish up tomorrow (I have a most excellent and thorough list!) The only other things on my to-do list tomorrow is to drop off my dresses at our pastor's wife's house for her yard sale, and to get a NAP!

So to my tiny list of readers, I will be on vacation until the middle of August. And my most "faithful" reader - I'll see you next week! Yay!

Just Another Day?

I love birthdays. Not my own, per se, but I love celebrating. I think a birth-week is even better.

But there are some people I know who when you give them attention on that day, tell us it's "just another day."

I just disagree.

I think the day you were born is special!

Pets

When you get your new pet, you don't see many years down the road having to make hard decisions. Spend hundreds of dollars on testing and treatment or let the pet die on its own.

I grew up on a farm. We had pets. Some of them just disappeared. We had a very nice cat - Ruth. She had cute kittens. She was a good mamma. And one day she just didn't come home. We had a rabbit. Bugsy. I don't know what happened to him, either. Could have been supper, I guess.

But when I was single, I got two kittens from my adopted family's new litter. Shadow and Jack. Shadow was dark gray with light gray stripes. Jack was precocious. So at 6 wks old, I put them in a box and drove home. All the way home, they tried to get out. They were so small. I could hold one in my hand - it's little fat belly filling the palm of my hand with little legs hanging down. My sweet, chubby, furry babies.

I blocked them in the kitchen for a short time using a long mirror. Soon they were able to scramble over that. And then I had to kitty-proof my house. No more plants. No rubber bands. Nothing breakable left on end tables. They really were sweet. We would play for hours with the rings from milk jugs, empty soda cartons with extra openings and foil balls. Both kitties soon learned to play fetch, although Shadow got bored sooner than Jack.

I had to lock them out of my bedroom at night. They wanted to play all night. I would lock them out of the bathroom when I was in there, too. They were quite pester-y.

Shadow died a couple years ago from liver problems. Jack is still with us, but he's not in the best health. I took him to the vet yesterday. He isn't eating normally. They did blood work. He isn't diabetic, thank God. I don't think I could handle giving Little Boy and Jack shots. His kidneys are fine. His liver is fine. His thyroid is fine. But. Sigh. That word from the vet about killed me.

His white blood cell count is up. The vet said it could be an infection since the count isn't super high. I'm taking Jack back to the vet tomorrow for another steroid shot to get him to eat better and an antibiotic shot. If it's not an infection, it's cancer. The vet said we'll figure out the best way to keep Jack comfortable if that's the case.

This is the part "they" don't tell you about. When Shadow died, the vet told me I could hold her when they gave her the shot. I should have told him no. I don't think I could do that again.

Oh, my aching head

I'm not "up" for theological or historical debates. I can't follow along with the whole conversation anymore. I think much of it is because I don't want to fully engage my brain into someone's (who I don't know) argument. And much of it is that I just am too distracted or not interested to dispel energy into it.

A friend mentioned this news story:


PASTOR YANKED FROM CAPITOL OVER “JESUS” PRAYER
by Todd Starnes
A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus.

“I got fired,” said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation.

Baity’s troubles began during the week of May 31. He said a House clerk asked to see his prayer. The invocation including prayers for our military, state lawmakers and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina.”

“When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus,” he told FOX News Radio. “She said ‘We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.’”

When Baity protested, she brought the matter to the attention of House Speaker Joe Hackney.

“I told her I was highly offended when she asked me not to pray in the name of Jesus because that does constitute my faith,” Baity said. “My faith requires that I pray in His name. The Bible is very clear.”

When the clerk returned, Baity said he was told that he would be allowed to deliver the day’s prayer – but after that – his services would no longer be needed.

Hackney, a Democrat, and House Republican Leader Paul Stam released a joint statement to FOX News Radio:

“It has been our practice in the North Carolina House of Representatives for many years to request, but not require, that our guest chaplains deliver a nonsectarian prayer. This is intended as a show of respect for all the religions practiced by the members of the House and the people we represent.”

“In this instance, we allowed Pastor Baity to deliver his prayer, without interference, even though it was sectarian in nature. Nonetheless, we will review our procedures and guidelines concerning guest chaplains, and we will make sure we abide by applicable constitutional procedures. The House will adjourn within the next few days, but the results of this review will be publicly available whenever it is complete.”

Baity said he’s not happy with the way he was treated.

“When the state tells you how to pray, that you cannot use the name of Jesus – that’s mandating a state religion,” he said. “They talk about not offending other people but at the same time, if they are telling me how to pray – that’s the very thing our forefathers left England for.”

The Christian Law Association helped Baity draft a letter asking for an apology and an opportunity to return to the state capitol and finish his tenure.

“The First Amendment promises all Americans the free exercise of their religion, which includes the right to pray as their faith requires, even when they are invited to open state legislative sessions with prayer,” attorney David Gibbs told WXII-TV. “We trust that the North Carolina House of Representatives will realize its mistake and will offer Pastor Baity another opportunity to pray without requiring him to use a prayer that is mandated by government.”

Baity said he is still stunned by what happened.

“You would expect this somewhere else – Cuba, Saudi Arabia,” he told FOX News Radio. “You would never anticipate this happening in the United States of America.”

In a word – the pastor said – the decision is “anti-Christian.”

Read more: http://radio.foxnews.com/2010/07/09/pastor-banished-from-capitol-over-jesus-prayer/#ixzz0tIBtxnPE

I wrote that this was absolutely wrong. My friend's friend: As honorary chaplain, he agreed to serve by certain rules. If he did not like those rules, then perhaps he should not have agreed to serve in the position. Doesn't anyone find it ironic that a man retained to be a chaplain (a religious position, even an honorary one) for a specific purpose then claims that he is not bound by the offices of that position--a position created by a secular government?

I think that's a crock. Our founding fathers DIED to be free FROM the religious restraints of government (among other things). I quoted a prayer by Geo. Washington. He writes that that prayer is a fraud. I don't know. I need to research it more on my own. But I did list several prayers of other founding fathers who invoked the name of Jesus Christ.

I'm just walking away. This guy wants a debate, and my child-pecked, sleep-deprived, shriveling brain can't handle it.

2 Sweet Birds

I'm starting an etsy store. 2SweetBirds is my store name. There's nothing there, so please don't go searching yet. But I want to list some of the little dresses I'm sewing and see if I can sell something.

With the charges from etsy, Paypal and shipping, I'd be making a little more than if the dresses would sell at the little shop in town.

I'm getting excited!

I'm getting excited about our upcoming trip. It's sixteen days away. It seems so far away, but then I feel a little panicky feeling when I think of all the things on my list. Will they all fit in the car? Yikes. And I have to fit the kids in there, too!

I've started making a list and starting a stash of toys and activities for my two angels (HA) for in the car. My sister-in-law has been sending me links when she finds them. (Thank you!) I've been putting some things away as I buy them, and I ordered some cute things from Oriental Trading to do in the car, and as some indoor activities if/as we need them.


I bought each kid a small, magnetic dry-erase board. I'm not sure I'll let them have the markers. I did find some cute magnets to hold their papers. I got them each a new color wonder book. I found a cute memory game in a tin awhile back, and I'm going to put a small, self-adhesive magnet on the front and back of each piece. One idea that I read - and LOVE - is to make little stickers of family members' faces for the kids to put on pictures from magazines. I have to think about this and figure out a way to modify it. I want to figure out a way for them to check off our progress. Another idea is to make a checklist of items for them to look for. I am going to make a picture list since Little Boy doesn't like to read, and Baby can't read, yet. I like the idea of giving them a new activity/toy every half hour or so, but that would be a LOT of toys/activities!


I've ordered a couple pieces of no-seeum netting. I'm going to put some 3M hooks on the wall above our beds at the cottage, and use little clips to make mosquito tents. It's been a long time since I've had to try to sleep with bugs buzzing around the room. I figured this could help us sleep unattacked.

I bought a new swimsuit. Woman Within (Lane Bryant) has some cute ones on clearance, and I had a pair of capris in the basket from last week while I was looking. Before I checked out, I surfed for a coupon code. Voila! I found one for 1/2 off the most expensive item AND free shipping! My suit ended up being $14.99!

Yesterday I bought the kids a small pool. It's been unbearable here, and the sprinkler only occupies them for so long. I started looking online for larger, inflatable pools. I'm surprised at how reasonable they are. So next summer we'll invest in one.

DH and kids got haircuts yesterday. DH skipped a haircut last time; he was looking quite bushy. So I let him take my appointment. We drove separately since Baby wiped out in the driveway minutes before it was time to go. I stayed here and played medic. After Baby got her hair cut, I went to the little shop where my dresses are on consignment. I brought some home to put in our pastor's wife's yard sale. When I called her, she told me she's waiting a week. ROLLING EYES But she was thrilled when I told her we'd like to give them our old TV. It's at least 20 years old, but it's a 40 inch, and it still works fine.

Baby woke up early this morning. Actually, she woke up several times last night to go to the bathroom. She went into brother's room and woke him up. She put on a church dress, her new sparkly red shoes and went outside! She decided to sit on the couch and look out the window. And DH and I tried to catch another 40 winks. Until she started pestering from the hallway. So I got up with her. Sigh. DH goes out on last shift tonight, so he needs a little more rest. But it's hard to start off the day irritated at the kids.

It's time for breakfast!

I feel a pitty party coming on

So. I was just reading some blog posts and some Facebook posts. sigh

"I'm enjoying a cup of coffee on the porch of our room before the day begins."

What is so saddening?

I wish the first thought in the morning was to make a cup of coffee Diet Coke and sit out on a porch.

Instead, my first thought is about Little Boy's blood sugar. And how I should get out of bed and fix his breakfast.

And I read a blog post this morning of someone's menu for the month. sigh Where do I start? I am now completely envious of people who can just fix a meal, and put it on the table. Not to mention that I am envious that people can put cuisines from different cultures on their table. My family balks at food that isn't American. (rolling eyes)

I have to try to make sure the nutrients are balanced, try to incorporate some type of dessert, measure ingredients, measure serving amounts, figure out carb content, cook the meal, figure insulin dosage, and then I can sit down at the table.

Until someone says, "Can I have ketchup?"

Fireworks

Last night I took the kids to our pastor's house. We sat on their sidewalk and watched the little fireworks display. The kids had a great time; Little Boy was overly excited when people were setting off small fireworks on the sidewalk. Someone who isn't a parent, and wasn't really thinking, handed my son a lighter and a firecracker. Thankfully I was paying attention and stopped it. "He's 7!" We were all laughing at what a little firebug my son is. But when he grows up, he wants to be a medic.

"Yeah. He'll blow people up, and then put them back together!"

Know what's worse?

Know what's worse than going to bed feeling sick?

Waking up to hear Baby barfing before 6 am.

Poor thing. She threw up for almost 3 hours.

It all started yesterday. I fixed some scrambled eggs for the kids for breakfast. I added crumbled bacon and shredded cheese. It was yummy. But Baby decided she didn't like scrambled eggs. She's so finicky. One day she loves something and can't eat enough, and the next day, she won't touch it.

So I put saran wrap on her bowl and put it in the fridge. I pulled it out at lunch and reheated it. I added more cheese, too. She had to eat it before she could have a turkey burger and mac and cheese. (She loves this lunch.) She threw a fit. A fit that lasted an hour and a half. I had to put her back on her bed at least a couple dozen times. She tore all the bedding off. She pushed her bed away from the wall. She spit. She said she wanted all her hair cut off. Right now. (?) But she finally fell asleep. And she slept for 4 hours.

At supper, I reheated the eggs and added more cheese. So at this point, it was a bowl of cheese with some eggs and bacon. But she refused to eat it. And I'm sure she went to bed hungry.

I planned to throw out the eggs, and rescramble a new one in the morning. She nixed that plan, now didn't she.

Kidorable

Kidorable is a site that sell super cute outerwear for kids. Raincoats, umbrellas, rain boots, hats, scarves, etc. that are just for kids.

Frugal Mom Knows Best is having a give-away for winner's choice of umbrella. If I win, Little Boy is getting a fire fighter umbrella!

Kidorable also has a birthday club for kids that I'm going to check out.

Cute idea

for moms with only 2 hands. LOL

My kids are 7 and almost 5, and I'm tempted to make one.

Proactive

Just some pics of Little Boy at soccer camp. There were a couple that were funny, but I don't want him to think I'm making fun of him. Even though I did laugh. Out loud.

His first attempts at juggling the ball and heading the ball were quite humorous. I'm sure all kids go through it, but it's funny.

I don't know what I'll do tomorrow. Baby has a little ballet show at the end of her class. Little Boy has competition tomorrow and awards at the end of his class. They are at the exact same time.

I called Grandma to see if she and Granddad could come see Little Boy tomorrow. I figured if either kid could draw them, it would be him. She doesn't think they can make it. They are in the middle of building a garage. I understand. Mostly. I never said anything to Little Boy, so he won't be disappointed.

Today I decided to be a little proactive regarding his blood sugar. I had him eat a breakfast bar part way through. He was good when we got home. Thanking the Lord!

He's really excited about tomorrow. He's pretty unimpressed that I took pictures of him today. He's getting excited about his birthday, too. I asked him what he wants. He mentioned the little John Deere set again. I wanted to tell him I already HAVE that - what else? But I couldn't. I'm going to take Baby shopping with me tonight so she can pick something out for him.

I get panicky when I think that I have less than 2 days to get everything done, but seriously, I'm not doing a lot for this party. It is so hard to believe that 7 years ago, I looked and felt like a blimp. LOL

Different isn't always special

We're days away from his birthday. He's pretty excited. I am, too. He doesn't know we're planning a surprise party for Saturday. I have a huge list of stuff to do. I showed it to Baby; she said she'd take care of getting forks and cups. LOL. Yeah, right.

So we were reminded today that Little Boy is different.

He was 2/3 way through soccer camp, and I made him check his blood sugar. 58. sigh

We treated the low (juice box & half a breakfast bar), and he wanted to run right back out there. But that isn't the way it works. And he started crying. And the girl coaching their group was standing out there waiting on him. I told him he had to go tell her he was low, and that he couldn't run around. He didn't want to tell her that.

So I walked out there with him. (And got yelled at for it by another coach - God bless his little heart.) I explained to her what was up. I told her if he was playing back toward the goal where he would be standing more than running, he could come back into the game. She asked if he wanted to just go home.

Of course, he didn't. sigh

It was close to closing time, and she took so much time trying to move kids around that they didn't get to play much. So many of them were tired, they all wanted to play back. (I noticed all day she was struggling with organization.) The kids were all called across the field to the bleachers. I sent Little Boy over with his water bottle, but I told him to walk.

We got into the car. He was far from excited like he was yesterday. He was still feeling cruddy. He was sad. He was discouraged. And besides encouraging him, there wasn't anything I could do to change things. We got to the ballet studio to pick up Baby, and I had him check again.

He was ok. And by the time we got home, he was in a better mood.

Different isn't always better. And it kills me when he has to deal with this.

Camp report

Little Boy started soccer camp today. The coaches said they were expecting about 30 kids. Over 70 kids showed up!

Little Boy is super excited about the whole thing. He was nervous when we first got there; told me he thought he might barf. But I encouraged him to introduce himself to a little boy sitting on a soccer ball in the middle of the field. They kicked the ball back and forth before things got started. There were about 14 or so kids in his group. He ran his little buns off. I had him check his sugar half-way through. He was fine. I made sure he had a really good breakfast. His face was so red; he drank two bottles of water.

Baby and I watched for about an hour, and I took her to ballet camp. I dropped her off, and went back to the soccer field. It rained, and I got wet. :-( His sugar was fine until we were leaving Baby's ballet studio. He said he was feeling low; his sugar was 58. He drank a juice box, and when we got home he was in the low 80s.

After lunch and a shower, I think he is ready for a nap. Baby will get one, too. Even if she doesn't think she needs one.

Busy

I have been busy lately. I'm working on sewing dresses to sell. I sat last Saturday in a shop during the town's "Heritage Days". I sold one. To the lady next to me. I've sold one other to my son's therapist for her niece.

I know they are super cute, and I just need to find the right place to set up.

Baby was not happy to be interrupted to model her dress and shirt, thus the sour face. LOL